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This is a guest post by Star Hughes, edited for clarity. It is part of an ongoing series exploring youth in the office.

At age 21, I have already graduated college twice, with both a BA and MBA from the University of San Diego, and started my first full-time job, as the director of business development at Hughes Marino, the largest commercial real estate company in San Diego, Cali., that specializes in tenant representation.

How did I do it? I didn’t take the usual route, and I never did anything the easy way. Here’s my story.

Start Early

I’ve always prided myself on being different, whether it dropping out of preschool, refusing to wear make-up until my junior year of high school or never having a sip of alcohol. I graduated high school at age 18, but what made me different was how I chose to build on it. After about a month of college, I decided to graduate early. I knew I wanted to pursue my MBA, and I figured that I would be better off getting it sooner rather than later. I declared my major as business, mapped out my schedule for the next year and a half, and accepted the fact that I would not have much of a life.

I graduated from the University of San Diego at age 19 with a perfect 4.0 GPA—the highest academic average in the graduating class—and with a few years of work experience behind me. I was the only graduate too young to attend the graduation parties.

Immediately after getting my undergrad degree, I began the full-time Masters of Business Administration program, also at USD. This time will be different, I told myself. I’ll take the full two years to complete the program, have balance in my life, and focus on having fun.

Two of the three were true. For some strange reason, I decided to take nine MBA classes at a time, in addition to an internship at a local investment bank, in order to finish my degree in one year. The school said it couldn’t be done, but I’m a big believer that rules aren’t set in stone. If you can and are motivated enough to do things better, albeit differently, then go for it. Three weeks after turning 21, I graduated from the program.

Don’t Be Afraid To Ask

Don’t be afraid to ask for what you want. You have to ask for things to be successful—a lesson that women in my generation could hear a few more times throughout their careers. Ask for opportunities. Ask for a raise. Ask for a job.

So many of my graduating friends are struggling to find available positions through the company’s website, job search sites and career counselors. However, you can’t just wait for your dream job listing to appear online. It won’t happen. You have to ask for it. a beautiful package with your resume, a flawless cover letter, a personalized list of how you can contribute to the company and a portfolio of your past work. Then follow up with a personal phone call.

Think about how that compares to submitting a generic form online. Who is going to get the interview? Out-think your competition, and you’ll stand out.